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From Science to Story: Science Journalism in the Age of Fake News

After the 2010 earthquake, NGOs dumped hundreds of thousands of gallons of raw sewage at the end of the Port-au-Prince city landfill, which borders the sea and is not lined with an impermeable material. Image by Marie Arago/NPR. Haiti, 2017.

At a time when misleading or potentially dangerous science reporting can reach millions with a Twitter or Facebook post, the need for accurate science reporting is critical.

At the sixth Johns Hopkins-Pulitzer Center Symposium, these award-winning science reporters and Bloomberg School faculty explore the challenges of translating the complexities of science into understandable, compelling and informative content. The panel also considers the responsibilities of both scientists and reporters in explaining key research messages and producing balanced and accurate journalism.

Adalja is a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. He also serves on the City of Pittsburgh’s HIV Commission and on the advisory group of AIDS Free Pittsburgh. Cohen is a staff writer at Science magazine who has covered the HIV/AIDS epidemic for 30 years. His articles have appeared in many publications, and he has published two related books, Shots in the Dark and Tomorrow is a Long Time. Hersher is a reporter on NPR's Science Desk, where she reports on outbreaks, natural disasters, and environmental and health research.